Peter Matthiessen was a celebrated author who masterfully wove together profound philosophical inquiry with compelling narrative. His works, often drawing from his extensive travels and passion for the natural world, explored complex themes of human existence, spirituality, and our relationship with the wild. With a remarkable ability to capture the essence of place and spirit, Matthiessen offered readers a unique perspective on life that resonates with deep understanding and reverence for the wilderness.
Cesar Chavez's struggle for agricultural workers is portrayed as a quest for national redemption, emphasizing the broader implications of his fight. Peter Matthiessen delves into Chavez's character, presenting him as a symbol of integrity and resilience. Through this exploration, readers are invited to reflect on their own values and actions, making the reading experience a personal confrontation with one's beliefs. The narrative serves as both a tribute to Chavez and a call to examine societal responsibilities.
The bestselling final novel by a writer of incomparable range, power, and achievement, a three-time winner of the National Book Award. Peter Matthiessen was a literary legend, the author of more than thirty acclaimed books. In this, his final novel, he confronts the legacy of evil, and our unquenchable desire to wrest good from it. One week in late autumn of 1996, a group gathers at the site of a former death camp. They offer prayer at the crematoria and meditate in all weathers on the selection platform. They eat and sleep in the sparse quarters of the Nazi officers who, half a century before, sent more than a million Jews in this camp to their deaths. Clements Olin has joined them, in order to complete his research on the strange suicide of a survivor. As the days pass, tensions both political and personal surface among the participants, stripping away any easy pretense to resolution or healing. Caught in the grip of emotions and impulses of bewildering intensity, Olin is forced to abandon his observer’s role and to bear witness, not only to his family’s ambiguous history but to his own. Profoundly thought-provoking, In Paradise is a fitting coda to the luminous career of a writer who was “for all readers. He was for the world” (National Geographic).
The book explores the historical journey of Buddhism, tracing its origins from India to China and Japan, while also documenting its modern evolution as it crosses the Pacific into the Americas and Europe. It highlights the cultural adaptations and transformations Buddhism has undergone in these new contexts, offering insights into its contemporary relevance and impact on Western society.
Inspired by a near-mythic event of the wild Florida frontier at the turn of the twentieth century, Shadow Country reimagines the legend of the inspired Everglades sugar planter and notorious outlaw E. J. Watson, who drives himself to his own violent end at the hands of his neighbours. His son Lucius investigates the killing which has come to obsess him. In this bold new rendering of the Watson trilogy Matthiessen has deepened the insights and motivations of his characters, consolidating his fictional masterwork into a poetic, compelling novel of a monumental scope and ambition, with breathtaking accomplishment.
The narrative showcases Watson's exceptional voice, weaving a story that resonates deeply with readers. Its artistic merit and emotional depth suggest that it has the potential to be recognized as a classic in literature. The book's exploration of profound themes and its unique storytelling style set it apart, making it a significant contribution to contemporary fiction.
Renowned for his lyrical prose, the author explores the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural world. Through vivid descriptions and insightful reflections, he captures the beauty and complexity of nature, encouraging readers to appreciate and connect with their environment. This work stands out as a significant contribution to contemporary nature writing, blending personal experience with broader ecological themes.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Peter Matthiessen took part in a number of
expeditions to Africa, witnessing first-hand the continent's many and diverse
peoples and wildlife. schovat popis
Set against the backdrop of 1968, the narrative follows naturalist-explorer Peter Matthiessen as he encounters three Zen masters at home, sparking his journey into Buddhism. Over thirteen years, this exploration leads him to become a Buddhist monk. In a style reminiscent of his acclaimed work, The Snow Leopard, the book delves into Matthiessen's profound quest for spiritual understanding, highlighting the intersection of nature, adventure, and inner transformation.
The second novel in the Watson trilogy showcases the talent of a unique American writer, recognized for both fiction and nonfiction with a National Book Award nomination. This installment continues to explore complex themes and character development, building on the rich narrative established in the first book. Readers can expect a thought-provoking journey that delves deeper into the intricacies of the characters' lives and the overarching storyline.
Records the experience of swimming in open water among hundreds of sharks, the
beauties of strange seas and landscapes and the camaraderie, humour and
tension of people who live in close proximity and risk their lives day by day.
